Wednesday is the summer solstice, but unlike the Druids and other ancient sun-worshippers we have less cause for celebration – because as UV radiation peaks across the UK so too does our risk of sunburn and skin damage.
Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer in the UK. It accounts for almost 60 per cent of all cancers diagnosed annually.
Charities have spent millions of pounds on awareness campaigns, yet 86 per cent of melanomas are entirely preventable. So what’s going wrong? And why do we have such a dangerous relationship with the sun?
Like many health issues, it’s complex. There are benefits to spending time in the sun. It’s our primary source of vitamin D and exposure to sunlight activates feel-good endorphins.
Studies have shown these happy hormones can make it easier to handle pain and have a similar action to opioids. Sunshine also regulates production of melanin, a hormone which is important for sleep.
But all the evidence shows that when it comes to sunshine we are, literally, getting too much of a good thing.
Here we unpick the myths and misinformation that put us at risk and reveal how to stay safe, and protect your skin from sun damage and ageing.
The wrong hot takes
“People often think the sun is strongest when the temperature is highest,” says Dr Rachel Abbott, a consultant dermatologist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and spokeswoman for BAD, the British Association of Dermatologists.
“The UV index tends to be highest around the summer solstice, but there is this misconception that temperatures and the UV index are linked and this catches a lot of people out.”
Alice Davies, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, adds, “A lot of people are quite aware of the risk of burning when they are on a summer holiday somewhere hot, but when they are at home they don’t always realise the sun is still strong enough to burn. Even on a cloudy day, some UV radiation gets through and can cause sunburn.”
Broken cloud cover actually increases the risk of burning because when the sun does break through, it leads to short, sharp bursts of high-intensity UV.
Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain recorded four-fold spikes in UV levels, from 2.6 when cloud cover was thickest, to 10.4 when the sun broke through, which was higher than recorded on a comparable clear day.
Poor timing
Your risk of skin damage depends on your skin type, and anyone with fair to olive skin is likely to burn when the UV index is three or higher, which happens more often than you may think.
We’re advised to take particular care between 11am and 3pm, but between May and August last year, in some parts of the UK, the UV index was already 3 or more by 9am. Download the Met Office weather forecast app to check the daily UV index.
Early spring can also be risky for rays because pockets of low ozone pass over the UK in March and April. The Met Office warns that, as a result, UV levels may be higher than their forecasts.
Can you have a healthy tan?
Dr Abbott says there’s only one way to get a safe tan, and that’s to have a spray tan or use fake tan, because any change in your skin’s colour is a sign of damage. And while there is a grain of truth to the belief that getting a so-called base tan will provide some protection, this is equivalent to an SPF of 2 to 4.
If you do get burnt, she says, “It’s all about reducing the inflammation, and anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen will help”.
There is also evidence that vitamin B3 may reduce sun damage and a UK study is in the pipeline.
A small study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that grapes provide some protection against sun damage in people with fair to medium skin – but you have to eat the equivalent of two cups of grapes a day for two weeks to see a benefit.
To keep an eye on moles and any skin changes, download the MySkinSelfie app which has been developed by consultants at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University computer scientists.
Protection points
Sunscreen should not be your primary protection against the sun, says Dr Abbott. “Sunscreen is great, but it should be used in conjunction with sun hats, clothing, shade and sunglasses.”
Studies also show that most of us don’t apply enough to achieve the product’s stated sun protection factor, or SPF.
Dr Abbott advises applying at least half a teaspoon of sunscreen to your head and neck, and at least two tablespoons to the rest of your body if in swimwear.
Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going into the sun, and reapplied every two hours, and after swimming – even if it’s described as water-resistant or waterproof.
Research for the skincare brand Hada Labo confirms that two in five women are failing to apply sun screens effectively and a quarter of women will ignore BAD advice to wear sunscreen for half the year.
The consistency of sunscreens is a major turn-off with 49 per cent of people polled by the firm saying they disliked the greasiness, while 46 per cent complained that many types leave the skin feeling sticky.
Dr Abbott says: “The most important thing is for people to find a sunscreen you are happy to use at a price you are happy to pay.
“I generally recommend looking for one that is fragrance free because it’s one less thing to cause irritation on the skin.”
To avoid using out-of-date sunscreens, write the date on the bottle when you open it.
Products should carry a symbol of a jar with a number on it to show how long it remains effective after opening.
No stars?
We’re sometimes advised we must buy sunscreen with a star rating of four or more, but Dr Abbott says this is a myth. The star rating system was actually created by pharmacy chain Boots, and they control who can use it.
She says the difference between a four and five star product is very small, and products which have the letters UVA in a white circle will provide all the protection you need.
Dr Abbott adds that some product claims are more about marketing than skincare. For instance, some are promoted as being free from parabens.
This was prompted by concerns that these preservatives might increase the risk of cancer. However, no link has ever been proven and regulators in the UK, Europe and USA have ruled parabens safe to use.
Good buys - and bye byes
- Hada Labo Super Moisturizer Sun Lotion (£20.99 for 200ml; Superdrug) is a great buy if gloopy sunscreens are a turn-off and you want a sunscreen that also prevents the signs of ageing. It provides an SPF of 50 and good UVA protection, as well as moisturising hyaluronic acid.
- A dermatologist-controlled clinical trial in 25 adults aged from 23 to 68, who used the sunscreen in real-world conditions for 28 days, found an average 14 per cent increase in skin hydration. Skin analysis using Primos 3D Lite — a 3D scanner which is widely used to assess skin microstructure — showed that all participants had fewer wrinkles overall, and the length and depth of wrinkles was also reduced.
- Asda Protect Cooling Clear Sun Mist (£4 for 200ml) is ideal if you’re on a budget and looking for a no-frills sunscreen for the whole family. It has a best-buy recommendation from the consumer magazine Which? The aerosol sailed through the magazine’s tests for SPF and UVA protection and was described as a “brilliant budget choice... but it does feel a little greasy”.
Give mineral screens a miss
When Which? tested five mineral-based sunscreens, four out of five products fell well short of the SPF30 and UVA protection promised.
Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Body costs £26 for 125ml, but Which? found it “barely provided a third of its claimed SPF”.
Others which failed were Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, Green People Scent Free Sun Cream, Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Protective Sun Milk and Tropic Skin Shade Sun Cream. Green People Scent Free Sun Cream, which uses both mineral and chemical UV filters, delivered on SPF but failed to protect against UVA.
Look for any mention of zinc or titanium in the ingredients to identify mineral sunscreens.
